Ilex Winter Red

Ilex Winter Red is a slow-growing upright deciduous shrub with a rounded habit and luscious dark green foliage. As a female cultivar, Winter Red produces heavy amounts of large glossy bright red berries if pollinated that can persist all the way to spring. Best planted in moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils. Hollies are dioecious and need both male and female plants to produce fruit. Ilex verticillata is a native food source for several animals and pollinators, and acts as a host for various moths and the Henry's Elfin Butterfly. While the wildlife enjoys the berries they are toxic to humans. Type: Shrub Origins: Eastern N. America; north GA Native Height: 6' - 8' Spread: 6’ - 8' Spacing: 7’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 Culture: Full Sun, Part Sun Bloom Color: White Season of Interest: Spring, Fall, Year-Round MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Water regularly. Well-drained soils essential. Potential issues include mites, scale, leaf spot, rot, and mildew. Susceptible to leaf scorch or drop if not protected from afternoon sun in hotter climates. LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Privacy Screen, Foundation Plantings, Hedges, and Containers. COMPANION PLANTS: Magnolia, Peony, Blueberry IMAGES: Photo by David J. Stang, Ilex verticillata Winter Red 9zz, CC BY-SA 4.0 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown